mission in benghazi, libya, that killed ambassador chris stephens and three others. five days after that attack, rice appeared on "face the nation"." >> we do not have information at present that leads us to conclude this was premeditate or preplanned. >> reporter: republicans, led by john mccain, charged that the administration already knew that it was a planned terrorist attack. >> it is clear that the information that she gave the american people was incorrect. >> reporter: in november, rice testified behind closed doors on capitol hill, but her critices, like senator lindsey graham, were unrelenting. >> bottom line, i'm more disturbed now than i was before that 16th september explanation about how four americans died in benghazi, libya. ambassador rice, i think does not do justice to the reality at the time, and, in hindsight, clearly was completely wrong. >> reporter: last month, the president defended rice with a rare flash of public anger. >> when they go after the u.n. ambassador, apparently because they think she's an easy target, then they've got a problem.